The injection of sodium silicate into less-dense transition metal sulfate solution results in a precipitation reaction known as the “reverse chemical garden” reaction. We analyze this reaction with a novel method—wavelet analysis of time-sequence images of the macroscopic precipitation structure. This analysis allows a morphological characterization of the reaction that was not accessible before. Relative densities of the two solutions are expected to impact the reaction by affecting the rate at which the two solutions flow through each other. Density is experimentally manipulated by altering the spectator anion in the metal solution. We present wavelet analysis of the reaction run under these different density conditions.

Spectator ion effects in a “reverse chemical garden” reaction

255th National Meeting (2018)

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